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LAKESIDE PLAZA |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
UPTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT
The Uptown Business District is well-positioned for future growth given the
concentration of regional transportation facilities, higher education institutions
and location of major corporate offices that are key job creators.
The Uptown Business District is home to Microsoft’s Latin American Headquarters
and the world headquarters for Citrix Systems, putting the area on the map as a
technology hub. City College, Keiser University and University of Phoenix arewithin
the district and support the regional employment center. The Property is within
walking distance of a number of restaurants, and there is a free mid-day shuttle
service (the Uptown Link) that takes workers in the area to the neighborhood’s
main shopping and dining centers and the Tri-Rail Station. The Uptown Link runs
every seven minutes from 11:00 AM through 3:00 PM, and is a convenient option
for workers who do not want to drive their cars during lunch hour.
In addition to its strategic location, Uptown benefits from strong civic leadership
and a supportive public planning environment. A newly formed non-profit
organization, Envision Uptown, Inc., collaborates with landowners, business and
civic leaders and governmental agencies to develop plans for the transformation
of the Uptown area. The vision is to become a walkable neighborhood of offices,
residences, retail, hospitality, civic spaces and public plazas. The development as
a transit-oriented, 24-hour urban village center is supported by numerous local
and regional plans, including the City of Fort Lauderdale’s 2035 vision plan.
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) employed a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) to
help develop strategies for the new, improved Uptown Urban Village. One large
gap that was identified was compact residential enclaves within the existing
employment center that would be attractive to millennials, a significant driving
force in the high tech job market. Though not currently zoned for multifamily
residential, it is conceivable that the City would be amenable to granting a variance
at the Property or modifying the zoning to make the vision for this area a reality.
The TAP also examined roadway design to make the Uptown Urban Village more
pedestrian friendly, making use of pathways and linear parks, shade, active ground
floor uses and consistent streetscapes. Multiway boulevards, which have a strong
history and are increasing in use, were proposed along the Cypress Creek and
Powerline Road corridors.
NW 63RD ST.
CYPRESS CREEK RD.
N. ANDREWS AVE.
McNAB RD.
NW 5TH WAY
NE 1ST AVE.
NW 6TH WAY
NW 6TH WAY
NW 59TH CT.
NW 65TH CT.
POWERLINE RD.
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Given the vision and strategic location of the
Uptown Business District, the area around the
Property is prime for further infill development
and redevelopment to transform it into the Uptown
Urban Village.
The Uptown Link is a free, mid-day “wave and
ride” shuttle service that reduces the depency on
automobiles in the Uptown Business District. It
is one small step in transforming the area into a
walkable Uptown Urban Village
.
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